How Chase Center Continues To Go Green

Each year, April 22nd marks Earth Day; a day dedicated towards raising environmental awareness and increasing efforts towards greater sustainability practices. Chase Center utilizes sustainable business practices and procedures for the 18,000-seat arena and retail spaces in San Francisco’s Mission Bay neighborhood.

Chase Center achieved LEED Gold certification, a nationally accepted benchmark for the development and operation of green buildings, from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Since its inception, Chase Center’s sophisticated design concentrates on reducing environmental impact and promoting sustainable practices. The 18,000-seat arena was constructed with regionally-sourced materials that contain recycled content, thus reducing the use of virgin materials.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), San Francisco is leading in waste diversion rates by setting national recycling and compost rate records as one of the highest of any city in North America. Chase Center parallels similar principles, encouraging waste diversion and proper waste disposal by placing recycling and composting bins in dedicated areas throughout the building to urge visitors to recycle paper, cardboard, glass, plastics, and metals. Subsequently, there is a post-sorting of trash after every event for recycling and composting since an estimated 60% of materials in the arena is compostable. Food also does not go to waste at Chase Center with over 5,000 pounds of unused food donated to the Food Runners program.

Waste diversion solutions, including on-site water collection and reuse, have extended to the development space around the plaza as well. In order to reduce portable water use, Chase Center is fully-equipped with efficient flush and flow fixtures throughout the building. Moreover, the site is designed to recover gray water from lavatories and showers as well as harvest stormwater from the roof. The water is then treated on-site before returning for use in restroom flush fixtures. These efficient flush and flow fixtures have led to a projected 31.54% reduction in water use.

Energy efficiency is of the upmost importance at Chase Center, so the arena uses Indirect-Direct Evaporative Cooling (IDEC) air handling units which make use of the climate in the Bay Area to reduce the need for mechanical cooling. The design integrates highly-efficient lighting with lighting controls throughout the project, including in suites, lounges and office spaces to generate the desired user experience. Arena-wide high efficiency lighting combined with IDEC unites have led to a projected 35.3% energy cost savings. Additionally, green power, produced mainly from wind driven sources, was purchased to offset 70% of Chase Center’s electrical use for two years.

Chase Center offers alternative transportation options for visitors. In order to reduce auto emissions and pollution caused personal vehicle usage, the site provides a network of public transportation options and preferred on-site parking spaces for carpools, low-emitting vehicles and electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. Plus, Chase Center offers a variety of bicycle storage spaces, including an indoor bike valet for more than 300 bicycles.

The development of Chase Center and its surroundings has shown that scale does not have to sacrifice sustainability, as the Golden State Warriors organization is committed to protecting the Earth for future generations by continuing mindful business practices and procedures that contribute to a clean, healthy environment.